Actually it is up to the leader to give people enough room so they can express their opinions/ ideas. If you act too close minded, people won't contradict let you take the fall. So may-be you weren't a good leader and people were just expecting you to give up or be demoted at some point.

Also the role of leader is to take decision, chose a certain strategy not to micromanage everyone. So again, if people don't feel like they can do their job by excessive management, nothing good will happen and you will face what you call idiots.

Also followers are a different issue actually as actually you might be the one falling into self confidence induced by people who just say what they expect you to hear... (just look at a post of Dan the man for a local example). lol